Non-European Stars playing in Europe and heading to Tokyo 2020
Feature
With one of the most anticipated, and long awaited, Olympic games in history just around the corner, volleyball fans from all over the globe are exuberantly waiting for their countrymen and women or their favourite players to get on the court in Japan and strive for one of the shiniest medals in world sports, the Olympic gold.
After looking back at the teams and players representing Europe at Tokyo 2020, we continue preparing for the competition by diving slightly deeper and searching to identify some of the biggest non-European names in volleyball who are expected to take part in the Olympics, players who are also regulars in European club competitions.
Women’s Volleyball
Alongside European stars such as Italy’s Paola Egonu or Serbia’s Tijana Bošković, as well as a myriad of immense players on the rosters of Europe’s representative nations, there are quite a few non-European stars that will get on the Olympic volleyball courts starting later this month.
Gabriela Guimarães – Brazil
Vakifbank’s Outside Hitter is heading into the Olympics on the back of a defeat in the Finals of the VNL 2021 against USA and also following a season where she had to settle for second place in the CEV Champions League as the Turkish giants from Istanbul was defeated by Imoco Volley Conegliano in the Super Finals Verona.
However, nobody will be betting against Brazil’s chances of winning a medal in Tokyo as the two-time gold winner (2008, 2012) and two-time bronze winner (1996, 2000) is always among the favourites to go all the way.
Kimberly Hill, Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, Jordyn Poulter & Micha Hancock - USA
VNL 2021 winners but adversaries in the Italian League, Kim Hill (Imoco Volley Conegliano), Jordyn Poulter (Busto Arsizio) and Micha Hancock (Igor Gorgonzola Novara) as well as VakifBank’s Michelle Bartsch-Hackley will be heading into these Olympics hopeful they can bring the first Gold for the USA, despite the nation having come close several times before.
Jordan Larson, one of the biggest names to have played in Europe will be making her third appearance at the Olympics, after previously winning silver (2012) and bronze (2016).
We have chosen a few Honorable Mentions to this list, players that are no longer playing in Europe but have definitely left a lasting impact and will be playing a key role for their countries this summer: Kim Yeon-Koung (South Korea), Zhu Ting (China), Erika Araki (Japan).
Men’s Volleyball
David Smith, Micah Christenson, Matt Anderson & Erik Shoji - USA
Ranked 3rd in the world, the USA men’s volleyball national team is definitely one of the strongest competitors in Tokyo, benefiting from many years of European experience for most of their roster.
David Smith is one of the players looking at replicating the incredible success achieved with Poland’s Zaksa in the CEV champions League Volley this past season and alongside him are several players who have reached the heights of European Volleyball.
Ricardo Lucarelli Souza – Brazil
Trentino’s Lucarelli has had an amazing 2021 club season, which unfortunately ended in Champions League disappointment as his team had to concede defeat in the SuperFinals Verona against Zaksa.
Same as in the women’s competition, Brazil is one of the powerhouses on the world stage and their VNL 2021 success against Poland in the Final proved their claim for Olympic gold has as much validity as in any previous edition.
With his return to European Volleyball confirmed for the new season as he is set to join the Italian side of Modena and play in the CEV Cup, Bruno Rezende has to be our special mention for this Brazil’s squad.
Luciano De Cecco & Sebastian Solé – Argentina
Civitanova’s De Cecco and Perugia’s Solé are rivals in the Italian League and on the European stage but this summer they will be one of the pillars of the Argentine team. No strangers to volleyball at the highest level, the hopes of Argentina’s fans will be for these two extremely talented players to lead their country to a medal for the first time since Seoul 1988 when they won bronze.
Our Honorable Mentions on the men’s side have to be Japan’s Yuki Ishikawa, CEV Challenge Cup Winner this past season with the Italians from Allianz PowerVolley Milano and Canada’s Graham Vigrass and Nicholas Hoag, two players who have been playing in Europe at the highest level for most of their careers.